Necktie knot former and support



HKANTER ETAL.

NECKTIE KNOT FORMER AND SUPPORT Aug. 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 2'. 1965 ENTORS ATTORNEY H. KANTER ETAL Aug. v22, 1967 Filed Dec. 2. 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,336,600 NECKTIE KNOT FORMER AND SUPPORT Harry Kanter 535 E. 86th St., New York, N.Y. 10028,

and Robert Kallman, 612 Forest Hills Drive, Wilmington, N.C. 28401 p Filed Dec. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 511,148 Claims. (Cl. 2-153) This application is a continuation-in-part of our applications Ser. No. 431,594, filed Feb. 10, 1965, now Patent No. 3,220,015 and Ser. No. 464,084, filed June 15, 1965, now Patent No. 3,237,208. In the iirst application we disclosed a novel forming member about which the tie is knotted. Further, we disclosed a speedy andy effective means of fastening the tied necktie to the forming member. Specifically, we ldisclosed a speed nut which engaged a rear post on the forming member and bore down on the overlapping rear borders of the necktie so as to secure the necktie into final position without requiring any sewing of such rear borders. In the second abovementioned application we disclosed a novel clamp are which eliminated the need for a rear post. We also disclosed a new spring plate arrangement.

This invention relates to neckwear and more particularly to neckties of the pretied type provided with clip or clamp means on a knot forming member for releasably attaching the necktie to a collar neckband.

The general arrangement of such pretied neckties is described in U.S. Patents No. 2,798,226 4and 2,972,750 including the steps of knotting the necktie about a former or forming member.

In this application we also provide a forming member without a rear post. Further, instead of a speed nut we now have devised a lowermost securing pin which is driven forwardly to accomplish the fastening of the necktie to the forming member, the pin 'being formed with a crowned and toothed head which bites against the overlapping rear borders and secures the necktie in place.

However, an additional important improvement has been devised by us in this application. Thus, we have achieved in simplifie-d form what the art has long been seeking, i.e., the automatic upward tilting of the necktie knot to simulate a normally tied necktie as executed by a fastidious dresser. Briefly, ready tied neckties have often been criticized as lying flat and thus looking artificial. In our previous patents, the rear spacer was helpful in correcting this defect. In this application, however, We effect the desired result by so constructing the forming member that it automatically assumes a tilted disposition on the wearer. This we accomplish in part by permitting the neckband of the wearers shirt to advance to such a point relative to the clip means of the forming member as to cause the forming member to tilt. We augment this action by providing a forward wedge which contributes to the same effect as will be shown hereinafter.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side View showing, in partly broken away form, the pretied necktie as it is worn;

FIGURE 2 is -a front elevational view of the knot forming body member embodying the present invention, and about which the necktie is knotted and supported;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

yFIGURE 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view thereof with the clamp arm in open position;

FIGURE `6 is a rear fragmentary perspective view of the assembled necktie;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the knot forming body member; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a necktie advantageously employed with the improved device.

FIGURE 9 is a side sectional view.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the pretied or preknotted tie which is illustrated as attached to the band 11 of a shirt collar 12 on a wearer W. The knot K of the tie 10 is supported and releasably attached to the neck band 11 by a tie or knot forming and support device `13 constructed in accordance with lche present invention. The device comprises a winged knot forming and body member 14, a spring plate 16, and a clamp arm 17, an exploded view thereof being shown in FIGURE 7.

In the exploded View of FIGURE 7, the knot forming and support device is made up of body member 14 which is advantageously of a molded, somewhat resilient plastic material like polyethylene or indeed of any conventional material whether metal or pressed fiber board. It is of approximately triangular configuration with a bottom, medially located, downwardly rearwardly inclined apex section 18 and a pair of laterally extending rearwardly directed wings 19 symmetrical to the vertical medial axis of the body member 14. The side edges 20 of member 14 converge downwardly to the apex 18.

A front wall 21 bridges the wings 19. On both defining sides of wall 21 are wedge sections 22 which project forwardly from wall 21 at their top ends and which taper downwardly and inwardly toward apex 18. As a result, wedge sections 22 define and form between themselves a forward chamber 23 which serves to receive and seat the inner leg of spring plate 16 as will be hereinafter explained. An anchoring aperture 24 is formed in the apex section 18.

Spring plate 16 is formed of resilient sheet metal and is disposed wholly-forwardly of wings 19. The bottom of plate 16 is tapered to a downwardly rearwardly inclined apex section 25 which overlies the front face of apex 18 and is provided with a registering aperture 26. Plate 16 is secured to body member 14 by a hollow -rivet 27 which registers with the apertures 24 and 26.

The upper part of the plate 16 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced vertical slits which divide the plate upper section into a pair of laterally spaced vertical, resilient outer legs 30, and a central or inner resilient leg 31 intermediate the legs 30, the central leg 31 being seated in forward chamber 23 and flatly abutting the front wall 21. Leg 31 is formed at its upper, free end, with a forwardly facing concave knuckle 32. On the other hand, legs 30 are formed at their upper, free ends with rearwardly facing concave knuckles 33.

Swingably supported by the knuckles 32 and 33, and cooperating with the body member 14 to create a fastening device is the clamp arm 17 comprising angularly related upper and lower legs 35 and 36 respectively, joined by an integrally formed crotch section 37 whereby the clamp arm 17 is rearwardly bowed in the closed position of the device. It is preferred that the included angle between the legs 35 and 36 should be about 135 and that the crotch 37 be spaced from the bridging front wall 31 in the closed position of the clamp arm about .375 inch, thus producing a well bowed construction ofthe clamp arm.

The arrangement for swingably supporting the clamp arm 17 and alternatively urging it to its open and closed positions includes a rectangular cross-bar 40 which iS engaged between the opposite facing knuckles 32 and 33. 'Ihe cross-bar 40 is formed at the end of a short, arcuate leg 41 which projects from the upper end of leg 35. The

clamp arm lower leg 36 terminates in a finger piece deining rounded bottom leg 42 which is at the level of the apex 18 when the clamp arm is in its closed posiiton. The action of the knuckles 32 and 33 on the edges of the crossbar 40 urges the clamp arm 17 alternatively to its open or closed position.

Finally, a horizontal crown pin 45 having a concavoconvex head or dome 46 with peripheral teeth 47 and a stern 48, is slidably received within hollow rivet 27 to accomplish the necktie securing function as will hereinafter be described. Stem 48 is slightly tapered so that when it is slidingly forced through rivet 27 in the securing operation it becomes firmly wedged in finally assembled position. Before such operation, it is somewhat frictionally retained in rivet 27 so `as not to become accidentally displaced.

The invention is practiced as follows: First, a tie T, generally shorter than a conventional tie, i.e. about 35 inches, is laced about the body member 14 to form the knot K in the well understood manner. As is well known, the tie T is advantageously, although not essentially, provided with apertures 50 and 51 spaced about 4 inches apart, along what corresponds to the upper rear edge of the knot forming section 52 thereof to facilitate the knotting of the tie T on the body member 14 without impeding the locking assembly in any way. Briefly, and in order to set forth herein the latest developments in the tying procedure, the clamp arm 17 is iirst inserted through aperture 51 to better stabilize the parts during the tying operation, the narrower end of the tie then extending downwardly along the front of the body member 14. The wider end is draped across a wing top edge, then brought around the front of the wings 19 so as to substantially encase one wing in a loop, another loop then being formed to encase the other wing while the clamp arm is inserted through the aperture 50. The ends are then pulled to tighten the knot. As above stated, this procedure is well known. Thereafter the crown pin 45 is driven forcefully through rivet 27 so as to bite against and intersecure the overlapping rear edges.

It will be observed that the knot K includes a pair of angularly related overlapping sections 54 and 56 which traverse the rear face of the body member 14 and extend from the upper edge thereof. The inner edges of the overlapping sections 54 and 56 intersect at a point directly above the crown pin 45 and they embrace the sides of the stem 48. Accordingly, when pin 45 is driven inwardly, the rear borders of overlapping sections 54 and 56 will be tightly pressed and engaged between the apex 18 and the toothed head 46. The tapered construction of stern 4S is effective in firmly wedging the pin 45 in assembled position, all without requiring any stitching.

The pretied necktie is attached to the collar by opening the clamp arm 17, inserting it behind the neckband, and snapping it to its locked position to embrace the neckband between the crown head 46 and the leg section or linger piece 42.

A rnost important aspect of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE l. Thus, a notorious defect of many prior devices has been the tendency of the pretied necktie to droop or sink in an unsightly fashion on the wearers chest. A well tied, conventional necktie, tends to drape or belly out smoothly because the neck encircling section serves as a cantilever support. A pretied necktie does not have a neck encircling section. In some of our prior patents we showed a rear spacer to remedy this defect. However, we now achieve this effect in even improved fashion by mounting the spring plate 16 wholly outwardly or forwardly of the wings 19 and also providing the Wedges 22. The removal of the spring plate 16 from the included angle between the wings 19, permits the neckband 11 to advance forwardly as much as possible toward wall 21. As seen in FIGURE l, this causes the wings 19 to tilt downwardly instead of being horizontal as is usual, Since the wings 19 are tilted, the knot K swings or pivots accordingly so as to jut out, simulating a cantilever suspension, while the wedges 22 contribute to this action. The tie thus drapes smoothly and outwardly as illustrated thereby achieving a long sought for result.

We have shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, but it is understood that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from this spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. A knot forming and supporting device adapted to have a necktie knotted thereabout, said device comprising a pair of laterally extending, rearwardly directed wing members, a bridge section connecting said wing members, fastening means on said bridge section, means on said device for urging the bottom portion of a necktie knot formed thereon outwardly away from the wearer so that said knot assumes a tilted position on the wearer with the top of the knot inward and the bottom of the knot outward, said fastening means comprising a spring plate disposed on and forwardly of said bridge section, a clamp arm rotatably connected to the upper portion of said spring plate and adapted to swing upwardly to an open position and downwardly to a closed position, said urging means including forwardly projecting means on said bridge section whereby a knot formed on said device will be urged to said tilted position, and said forwardly projecting means comprising two wedge shaped strips on said bridge section, said strips defining a front chamber, said spring plate including a central leg, said central leg being seated in said front chamber.

2. A knot forming and support device according to claim 1 and wherein said spring plate includes two vertical Outer legs, said outer legs being respectively disposed adjacent wedge shaped strips, and a rearwardly directed apex on said spring plate and on said bridge section, spring plate connecting means on both apexes, a necktie securing pin mounted on said spring plate connecting means, and a toothed head on said connecting pin.

3. A knot forming and support device according to claim 2 and including a necktie knotted about said wing members and including rearward overlapping sections, said toothed head biting against and securing said overlapping sections in position on said wing members.

4. A knot forming and support device according to claim 3 and wherein said clamp arm is bowed and cornprises an upper leg and a lower leg angularly extending therefrom, the included angle between said legs being and the meeting point or crotch between said legs being spaced from bridge section about .375 inch in the closed position of said clamp arm.

5. A knot forming and support device adapted to have a necktie knotted thereabout, said device comprising a pair of laterally extending, rearwardly directed wing members, a bridge section connecting said wing members, fastening means on said bridge section, means on said device for urging the bottom portion of a necktie knot formed thereon outwardly Iaway from the wearer so that said knot assumes a tilted position on the wearer with the top of the knot inward and the bottom of the knot outward, and including a necktie knotted about said wing members and including rearward overlapping sections, a necktie securing pin mounted on said fastening means, and a toothed head on said securing pin, said toothed head biting against and securing said overlapping sections in position on said wing members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,798,226 7/ 1957 Kanter 2-153 2,972,750 2/1961 Kanter 2-153 3,147,492 9/1964 Pulitzer 2-153 3,221,343 l2/1965 Phillips et al 2-153 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A KNOT FORMING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE ADAPTED TO HAVE A NECKTIE KNOTTED THEREABOUT, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING, REARWADLY DIRECTED WING MEMBERS, A BRIDGE SECTION CONNECTING SAID WING MEMBERS, FASTENING MEANS ON SAID BRIDGE SECTION, MEANS ON SAID DEVICE FOR URGING THE BOTTOM PORTION OF A NECKTIE KNOT FORMED THEREON OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE WEARER SO THAT SAID KNOT ASSUMES A TILTED POSITION ON THE WEARER WITH THE TOP OF THE KNOT INWARD AND THE BOTTOM OF THE KNOT OUTWARD, SAID FASTENING MEANS COMPRISING A SPRING PLATE DISPOSED ON AND FORWARDLY OF SAID BRIDGE SECTION, A CLAMP ARM ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PORTION, OF SAID SPRING PLATE AND ADAPTED TO SWING UPWARDLY TO AN OPEN POSITION AND DOWNWARDLY TO A CLOSED POSITION, SAID URGING MEANS INCLUDING FORWARDLY PROJECTING MEANS ON SAID BRIDGE SECTION WHEREBY A KNOT FORMED ON SAID DEVICE WILL BE URGED TO SAID TILTED POSITION, AND SAID FORWARDLY PROJECTING MEANS COMPRISING TWO WEDGE SHAPED STRIPS ON SAID BRIDGE SECTION, SAID STRIP DEFINING A FRONT CHAMBER, SAID SPRING PLATE INCLUDING A CENTRAL LEG, SAID CENTRAL LEG BEING SEATED IN SAID FRONT CHAMBER. 